Nearly a year after his tortured body was found, we still do not know who killed Saleem Shahzad. There was so much international outcry at the possibility that he may have been targeted by the intelligence agencies that a high-powered commission was set up to investigate his murder. The commission was unable to pinpoint the culprits but did seem to be in undue haste to absolve the agencies. Similarly, the murderers of journalist Wali Babar have been equally elusive. Part of the reason is that no matter how vibrant the press in Pakistan claims to be, it is not truly free. When reporters cross an imaginary line drawn by powerful interests, they end up paying the ultimate price and everyone else is thwarted in the quest for justice.
As deadly as official power to operate freely can be for journalists, the media in Pakistan faces other outside pressures as well. The decision to report on stories or, in many cases, not to report on them, is often dictated by advertisers. This is why, for example, the media rarely, if ever, acts as a watchdog on corporate power. Commercial interests usually trump the traditional adversarial role of the media. Be it fear of death or fear of declining revenue, anything that forces the press to censor itself should be considered a roadblock to media freedom. On this year’s World Press Freedom Day, it is these outside pressures that need to be recognised and overcome.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2012.
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"Be it fear of death or fear of declining revenue, anything that forces the press to censor itself should be considered a roadblock to media freedom"
A well written thought provoking editorial. I would like to salute bold reporters and the media organs publishing and broadcasting such bold attempts. ET obviously stands in forefront. Hopefully with passage of time situation will further improve and above stated roadblocks will be removed..